While the recent announcement of Billy Idol’s forthcoming Australian tour, which includes a string of arena shows with Cheap Trick and his addition to the A Day On The Green bill with Cheap Trick, The Angels, and Choirboys, came as good news to many fans of the ’80s icon, not everyone was so happy to see hear about it.
Most notably, Australian rock veterans The Superjesus, who were knocked off the bill along with fellow female-fronted Australian rockers Baby Animals to accommodate Idol, and their fans.
A Day On The Green promoters Roundhouse Entertainment released a statement last Thursday, announcing that the originally billed string of dates featuring Cheap Trick, The Angels, Choirboys, Baby Animals, and The Superejesus would not go ahead due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Superjesus frontwoman Sarah McLeod soon took to the band’s official Facebook page to address the cancellation, telling fans that the band “do not know why this has happened” and adding, “They will refund your tickets if you are no longer interested in attending this sausage fest.”
While several media outlets implied that McLeod was alleging sexism on the part of the promoter, the singer later clarified her comments in a post to her official Facebook page.
[include_post id=”421708″]
“Hey guys just to clarify, cause the media have jumped all over this,” she wrote, “I wasn’t insinuating that The Superjesus and BA’s were booted off A Day On The Green because the promoter was sexist.”
“I was just informing everyone what was left on the bill so you can make up your own minds depending on your personal music taste. It was a coincidence that the only two bands with women in them got shafted and yes we are still bummed and yes it’s still a sausage fest that is all!”
In a statement given to Music Feeds, the band said they were “upset” after being made aware of the situation at the same time as the public. “All we know is that they sent us a [press release] saying that we’re not on the bill anymore due to unforeseen circumstances,” said McLeod. “Bad form!”
However, despite what was announced to the public as “unforeseen circumstances”, A Day On The Green promoter Michael Newton recently told The Herald Sun that the shows were in fact amended in order to accommodate Idol’s first Australian tour in over a decade.
“When the Billy Idol tour came up, we thought it would be an amazing opportunity to include Cheap Trick, The Angels and the Choirboys all on the same bill. It just seemed to work together,” Newton told the paper.
“The bands loved the idea, we all did, so it’s been great that we’ve been able to make it happen,” he added. However, Newton did not explain when The Superjesus and Baby Animals were informed of the changes or whether or not they were asked to accommodate the changes.
[include_post id=”413517″]
Newton also told The Music that despite McLeod’s “sausage fest” comment, gender was not a factor in the decision to boot The Superejesus and Baby Animals. “The Angels and the Cheap Trick tour was about The Angels and Cheap Trick… they were the double-headlining artists. For them to go onto the Billy tour… that made sense,” he said.
“From there, the Choirboys were also playing… so we just did it. I did not even think about it being a gender issue. It’s bullshit, to be honest,” he insisted. “We didn’t want it to turn out this way, but it has. Promotion is not an actual science where you know what is going to happen.”
“We thought this was the best result for everyone, rather than just cancelling the tour. This was the best result. I thought up until now we’d really done the right thing by everyone, given the circumstances,” he said.
Baby Animals have since taken to their own Facebook page to express their disappointment over the cancellation of their dates, writing, “I’m disappointed as much as you all are! I’d like it to be known that we have always loved working with ADOTG. Always will. They look after us!”
“I know they’re trying their best to keep everyone happy, but sometimes it’s just not possible. Onwards & upwards.” The band goes on to write that they would still “love to play some shows with The Superjesus”, directing fans to a petition organised to see both bands embark on a tour together.
Punters who are looking to refund their tickets to the affected A Day On The Green shows can do so from the point of purchase. Ticket-holders are advised to contact Ticketmaster before 5:00pm ADST Friday, 14th November 2014, so refunds can be organised.
A Day On The Green with Billy Idol, Cheap Trick, The Angels, Choirboys
A Day On The Green members pre-sale from 10am local time Monday, 20th October to 5pm local time Tuesday, 21st October via A Day On The Green official website.
Saturday, 14th March 2014*
Kings Park & Botanic Gardens, Perth WA
Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100
Saturday, 21st March 2014
Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100
Sunday, 22nd March 2014
Leconfield Wines, McLaren Vale SA
Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100
Saturday, 28th March 2014
Bimbadgen Winery, Hunter Valley NSW
Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100
Sunday, 29th March 2014
Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton QLD
Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100
*The Choirboys not playing
Bill Idol, Cheap Trick Arena Shows
Frontier Members pre-sale 2pm AEDT Monday, 20th October to 2pm AEDT Tuesday, 21st October via Frontier Touring.
General public on sale 10am Thursday, 23rd October.
Wednesday, 18th March 2014
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong NSW
Tickets: Ticketmaster | 136 100
Thursday, 19th March 2014
Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney NSW
Tickets: Ticketek | 132 849
Tuesday, 24th March 2014
Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne VIC
Tickets: Ticketek | 132 849
